Crossrail puts main tunnelling contracts out to tender

Crossrail has this morning put its first two major tunnelling packages out to tender under one contract notice.

Lot 300 covers the construction of the 6.2 km stretch of tunnels from Royal Oak Portal - west of Paddington Station - through to the new Crossrail Farringdon Station. Work to be carried out in the 58 month project incudes the construction of a shaft at Fisher Street but the construction of the Royal Oak Portal will be let separately.

Lot 305 covers the construction of a 8.3km tunnel section from a launch chamber at Limmo Peninsular through to the new Farringdon Station. The 66 month project includes construction of a launch chamber at Stepney Green and a launch chamber at Limmo Peninsular. Construction of the Pudding Mill Lane and the Victoria Dock Portal structures will be let separately.

Rob Holden, Crossrail’s Chief Executive said: “Main construction for Crossrail will begin next year with the first of the tunnel boring machines launching in late 2011. We look forward to collaborating with organisations that are as enthusiastic as we are to deliver a world-class affordable railway.”

Both tunnels will be bored by earth pressure balance TBMs, with two required for Lot 300 and four for Lot 305. The twin 6.2m internal diameter bored tunnels total 21km in length.

The scope for both lots includes the review of designs during a pre-construction period, the construction of cross passages at approximately 500m intervals, and the supply, assembly and operation of tunnelling machines to be procured from a list of pre-approved manufacturers.

Contractors will also have to transport and stockpile all material excavated from the tunnels in locations local to the main drive sites.

Firms have until 28 September to submit pre-qualification questionnaires.

The tunnelling contracts in detail

Lot 300 comprises the construction of twin 6,2 m diameter bored tunnels from Royal Oak Portal (west of Paddington Station) through to the new Crossrail Farringdon Station, length of drive approximately 6,2 km (Drive X).

The scope of Lot 300 shall include: — review designs during a pre-construction period to improve buildability and to mitigate risks, — the construction of cross passages at approximately 500 m intervals, — the construction of a shaft at Fisher Street, — the construction of a crossover tunnel at Fisher Street constructed using Sprayed Concrete Lining techniques, — the supply, assembly and operation of 2nr earth pressure balance tunnelling machines (to be procured from a list of pre-approved manufacturers), — the supply of tunnel linings to include the design and construction of facilities for the manufacture of the linings, — The supply of all other materials for the works, — the transportation to and stockpiling of all material excavated from the tunnels to sidings adjacent to the main railway alongside the Royal Oak worksite. The disposal of excavated material from this location shall be the responsibility of others,— the implementation of settlement mitigation measures, — other miscellaneous work which may include the installation of first stage concrete in connection with track slabs and associated drainage; the installation of temporary and selected permanent tunnel mechanical and electrical services and all associated temporary works including design, and — fulfilling all of the duties of the Principal Contractor under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. Construction of the Royal Oak Portal structure shall be by others.

Lot 305 comprises the construction of twin 6.2m diameter bored tunnels from: — review designs during a pre-construction period to improve buildability and to mitigate risks, — a launch chamber at Limmo Peninsular through to the new Crossrail Farringdon Station, length of drive approximately 8,3 km (Drive Y), — a launch chamber at Stepney Green through to Pudding Mill Lane Portal, length of drive approximately 2,7 km (Drive Z), and — a launch chamber at Limmo Peninsular through to Victoria Dock Portal, length of drive approximately 0,9 km (Drive G).

The scope of Lot 305 shall include: — the construction of cross passages at approximately 500 m intervals, — the construction of shafts at Limmo Peninsular and Stepney Green to create the launch chambers for Drives Y and Z, — the supply, assembly and operation of 4nr earth pressure balance tunnelling machines (to be procured from a list of pre-approved manufacturers),— the supply of tunnel linings to include the design and construction of facilities for the manufacture of the linings, — the supply of all other materials for the works, — the transportation to and stockpiling of all material excavated from the tunnels to a river-side location local to Limmo Peninsular Shaft. The disposal of excavated material from this location shall be the responsibility of others, — the implementation of settlement mitigation measures, — other miscellaneous work which may include the installation of first stage concrete in connection with track slabs and associated drainage; the installation of temporary and selected permanent tunnel mechanical and electrical services and all associated temporary works including design, and — fulfilling all of the duties of the Principal Contractor under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.Construction of the Pudding Mill Lane and the Victoria Dock Portal structures shall be by others.

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